Ae Marika! 15 April 2014

Posted on April 15, 2014 by admin in News

Our MANA AGM down in Rotorua on the weekend was a sold-out affair – even the media were struggling to get in! Political conferences can be very dull, but not this one. We had a great line-up of speakers including Georgina Beyer (Labour) and Willie Jackson (Mana Motuhake) who gave us some excellent insights into media and politics, Donna Awatere (Act) who linked MANA to the notable victories for Maori over the past 40 years, Gareth Morgan (Phoenix owner and cat hater) who offered a completely new view of the Treaty, and Kim Dotcom (Internet Party) who told us all why he’d be great for MANA!!

The hall was jam-packed from start to finish, we had a “lengthy and robust debate” about a possible MANA/Internet alliance, we reviewed our policies (and I will refer to them in future columns because they are born out of the needs and aspirations I see right across the north), and Annette Sykes had us out door-knocking in Rotorua to keep us all grounded!

MANA has given unanimous approval for further discussions with the Internet Party, and while there have been a few grumbles I am happy to note that there have been also been hundreds of new registrations over the past few weeks.

The only downside to our conference was missing the Tai Tokerau Regional Kapa Haka Comps in Whangarei on Saturday. Kapahaka is something I always try to get to because I love the power of haka, the joy of waiata, the tingling feeling you get when you see a top performance, and the love that our people have for it.

We actually had to stop our conference twice to announce the winners of the Te Waipounamu and Tai Tokerau competitions, and on behalf of all those of us from MANA all over the north who weren’t able to make it, I just want to extend my heartiest congratulations to the Tai Tokerau Top Four – Muriwhenua (woop, woop!!!), Hokianga, Hatea and Te Puu Ao.

Congratulations to everyone for all the blood sweat and tears, the late nights, the yelling, the crying, the laughing, the feeds, the last second costume changes, the gel, the eyeliner, the cooks, the drivers, the fund-raisers, swapping kids to cope with the crazy hours and then forgetting whose house they’re at, the ta moko artistes, the supporters, the believers, the songwriters, the tutors, and of course … the performers.

And while I am acknowledging the efforts of all, let me add just the smallest of congratulations to Papa Chris Henare and Whaea Sandra Waitai for their win with Muriwhenua. These two are now without doubt the BEST kapa haka tutors in the north. For years they have taken Te Rangi Aniwaniwa to the top at both primary and secondary levels; now they can add the senior title to their resume.

I missed the seniors, but today I’m down at the Tai Tokerau Secondary Schools Kapahaka Festival in Wellsford for a two day blast! Catch you all next week.

AE MARIKA is an article written every week by Hone Harawira, leader of the MANA Movement and Member of Parliament for Te Tai Tokerau. You are welcome to use any of the comments and to ascribe them to Mr Harawira. The full range of Hone’s articles can be found on the MANA website at www.mana.net.nz.